Stay Vigilant, HMRC Warns
HMRC Warns of Rising Tax Scams as Self-Assessment Deadline Approaches
As the self-assessment season gathers pace, HMRC has issued a stark warning to taxpayers to be extra vigilant. In the past year alone, nearly 145,000 scam referrals for fake rebates and tax demands were identified, highlighting the growing threat of fraud during this critical period.
Rising Scam Reports
With the 31 January tax return deadline drawing closer, HMRC has urged taxpayers to be particularly cautious about refund scams. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting individuals with offers of tax refunds or demands for tax payments to steal personal information and banking details. Alarmingly, around half of all scam reports (71,832) in the last year were related to fake tax rebate claims.
A Surge in Scam Referrals
The past year has seen a significant increase in scam referrals to HMRC, with nearly 145,000 reports, marking a 16.7% rise from the previous year. Between November 2023 and October 2024, a total of 144,298 scam referrals were received, up from 123,596 in the preceding 12 months.
HMRC’s Advice
HMRC has emphasized the importance of verifying any communication claiming to be from them. If you receive a message asking for personal information or offering a tax rebate, it is crucial to check the advice on gov.uk to determine if it is a scam. Remember, HMRC will never:
Leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest.
Ask for personal or financial information via text message.
Contact you by email, text, or phone to notify you of a refund or to recommend making a claim.
Anyone due a refund from HMRC can claim it through their online HMRC account or the free and secure HMRC app.
Staying Safe
Kelly Paterson, Chief Security Officer at HMRC, advises: “With millions of people filing their self-assessment return before January’s deadline, we’re warning everyone to be wary of emails promising tax refunds. Being vigilant helps you spot potential scams. And reporting anything suspicious helps us stop criminal activity and protect you and others who could have received similar bogus communication. Our advice remains unchanged. Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check ‘HMRC scams advice’ on gov.uk.”
Protecting Yourself
To protect yourself from scams, always take a moment to think before parting with money or information. Use strong and different passwords on all accounts to make it harder for criminals to hack into your personal accounts. If a phone call, text, or email is suspicious or unexpected, do not give out private information or reply. Never download attachments or click on links, as scammers use these methods to harvest data and infect devices with viruses or phishing attacks.
Reporting Scams
If you encounter any phishing attempts, report them to HMRC by:
Forwarding emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk
Reporting tax scam phone calls on gov.uk
Forwarding suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599
National Campaign: Stop! Think Fraud
Earlier this year, the government launched a national campaign, “Stop! Think Fraud,” backed by organizations across law enforcement, tech, banking, telecoms, and the third sector. The campaign includes a new website with advice on how to stay safe online, which can be found at www.gov.uk/stopthinkfraud.
Stay informed, stay vigilant, and protect yourself from scams this self-assessment season.
